Theater spotlight: 'Madness of Edgar Allan Poe' haunts First Folio once again

Posted September 24, 2018 11:00 pm

First Folio Theatre ensemble member Christian Gray reprises his role as the master of the macabre in the company's remount of "The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe: A Love Story." Courtesy of Maia Rosenfeld Photography

Poe's 'Madness'

First Folio Theatre remounts "The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe: A Love Story," an audience favorite adapted by executive director David Rice from Poe's poems and stories. Ensemble member Christian Gray reprises his role as the troubled playwright, who, two years after her death, is still haunted by the memory of his beloved wife, Virginia (Erica Bittner). Skyler Schrempp directs the production, the action of which unfolds in various locations inside the Mayslake Peabody Estate. Previews at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3; 3 and 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4; and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5. The show opens Oct. 6 at 1717 31st St., Oak Brook. $25-$44. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.

Meaghan Looney and David Moreland star in Williams Street Repertory's premiere of "Bomber's Moon" by Deborah Yarchun.

WSRep premiere

Williams Street Repertory premieres "Bomber's Moon," a darkly romantic two-hander by Deborah Yarchun, and one of the works WSRep presented last year in a staged reading as part of its LAB series. Set during the London Blitz of 1940-1941, "Bomber's Moon" is about an American socialite and a working-class Londoner who seek shelter in an abandoned music shop during an air raid. Ensemble member Michele Vazquez directs. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28-29, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30. It runs through Oct. 21 at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $35.50. (815) 356-9212 or wsrep.org.

Chanell Bell, left, and Brandi Jiminez Lee, right, play sisters whose father, played by Terence Sims, moves the family to New York City in 1950 to seek guidance from Father Divine in Raven Theatre's season opener, "Crumbs From the Table of Joy" by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage. Courtesy of Christopher Semel

Domestic dramedy

Grieving widower Godfrey Crump moves with his teenage daughters Ernestine and Ermina from Pensacola, Florida, to New York City to seek solace and guidance from spiritual leader Father Divine in "Crumbs From the Table of Joy," Lynn Nottage's domestic drama about a family coping with loss as well as societal and political change. This marks Raven Theatre's first production of a play by the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner whose work artistic director Cody Estle says fits nicely into Raven's repertoire of classics by the likes of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. "It seems only fitting to include Lynn's voice among these greats," Estle said in a prepared statement. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4-5, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7. The show opens Oct. 8 at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. $32-$46 ($29-$43 if purchased online). (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

Strawdog Theatre Company premieres "Masque Macabre" adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's works and featuring Patrick TJ Kelly, left, and Laura Nelson, seen here with Michaela Petro, right, in a publicity photograph. Courtesy of Jon Cole

Modern nightmare

Count Strawdog Theatre Company members among Edgar Allan Poe's fans. The 19th-century writer's works inspired the company's premiere, the immersive production "Masque Macabre," written by Streamwood native Aly Greaves Amidei, Cara Beth Heath and John Henry Roberts. More than a dozen stories of revenge and murder play out simultaneously during a bash honoring a "bad boy" entrepreneur. Co-artistic director Anderson Lawfer, Janet Howe and Eli Newell co-direct the production. Previews at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4-5; 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7; and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 11. The show opens Oct. 12 at 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. $30-$50. (773) 644-1380 or strawdog.org.

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